More than ten years after the discovery of PFAS contamination in Veneto, the Region has finally announced an epidemiological investigation to evaluate the effects of PFAS on the health of the population. The study will involve Ulss 8 Berica and will be carried out with the support of the Regional Epidemiological Service and the Istituto Superiore di Sanità , which will provide scientific and methodological advice.
According to the Region led by Luca Zaia, it will be a retrospective investigation capable of reconstructing the exposure history of the communities involved, estimating the risks for various pathologies and strengthening prevention policies. A decision which, however, comes after many years of pressure from citizens and associations, and which now arouses quite a bit of criticism and accusations also due to the “strange” timing with which it was taken (there will be regional elections in a few weeks).
The serious contamination by Pfas in Veneto has been known for a very long time and is one of the most serious cases of pollution by perfluoroalkyl substances in Europe. The so-called “red area”, which extends between the provinces of Vicenza, Padua and Verona, has hundreds of thousands of citizens exposed for decades through drinking water and already in 2016 the Region had approved an epidemiological investigation, which was never carried out due to “cost issues”. Now, with the new announcement, that promise is proposed again, but with several limitations that have attracted quite a bit of criticism.
The criticisms
The reactions were not long in coming. The Moms No Pfas they talk about “good news, but ten years lateAccording to the committee, if the epidemiological study had been started on schedule, today we would already have crucial data on the long-term effects of exposure to Pfas, information that could have guided more effective prevention measures and targeted health interventions.
Another point of strong criticism concerns the geographical scope of the investigation, limited only to Ulss 8 Berica. The exclusion of large portions of the Red Area, including the provinces of Padua and Verona where contamination is historically more intense, risks providing an incomplete and non-representative picture of the real exposure of the population.
In support of this concern, data from previous studies on the entire Red Area highlight an excess of approximately 4,000 deaths between 1985 and 2018, with clear links between exposure to PFAS and pathologies such as tumors and cardiovascular diseases. For No Pfas Mothers, the new survey therefore risks being underpowered, unable to convey the real extent of the health risks and consequences on the health of the exposed community.
The regional press release also makes no mention of the involvement of associations, committees and citizens, who have contributed to collecting data and testimonies for years. The No PFAS Mothers therefore fear that the investigation will be conducted “behind closed doors”, without the participatory process that would guarantee greater credibility and independence.
This is why they ask the Region:
Even on the political front, the criticism is strong. Cristina Guarda, MEP of the Greens-Avs, together with the group leader Renzo Masolo, accuses the council of having found the funds only now, coinciding with the electoral campaign:
For twelve years citizens have asked for transparency, information and prevention. For twelve years the Veneto Region responded with silence, partial blood tests and without ever really taking care of the population exposed to PFAS. Today, one month after the elections, the Zaia council finally announces the study that could and should have been started immediately. It’s a pure shame.
Already in 2023, a regional query by Guarda had revealed that the study had been blocked due to lack of funds. Funds which, the Greens underline, have never been lacking for major events or initiatives decided by the president.
On the subject, Cristina Guarda gave a very harsh outburst to social media:
Sources: Veneto Region / Mothers No Pfas / Cristina Watch Linkedin
